Cassandra K

I stared blankly across the room, sucking in my teeth as I tried to recollect the memories of the turmoil that I have been through for the last twenty-four hours.

I shouldn't have planned that surprise for Ryan, even though it was his birthday, I should not have postponed my shoot just to spend time with him, then maybe I wouldn't have walked in on him balls deep in another woman, I wouldn't have witnessed him profess his undying love for another.

"He told me he was going to marry me very soon but actually, he was busy fcking his whore on our bed whenever I was busy with my work." I downed another glass of liquid as I cursed myself.

"How could I be so dumb to believe his shit!"

My early life should have taught me enough that men are always selfish and unreliable. But I didn't learn it at all!

Father's harsh abuse, mother's desperate sobbing, Ryan's relentless betrayal, all sorts of bad memories spinning through my mind, mocking me all around. I felt an urge to tear everything.

Someone bumped into me as my hand reached for another wine. "What the f-" My curse choked in my throat as a pitiful face came into view.

The slap mark was so visible on her delicate face that the corner of her mouth was swollen and even bleeding. I felt my nerves raging when this scene overlapped with the old days of how badly my mother was abused by my father.

"Please...help me." The woman whimpered at me while shivering in fear.

Shit! What I hated most in my life was men who bullied women!

I placed that broken woman on the seat beside me and my eyes finally locked on the perpetrator, who dusted off his sleeves being ready to leave as if nothing had happened.

I felt anger spread like wildfire all over my body as I staggered my way to that bastard.

"HEY YOU, STOP!" I yelled as I grabbed the corner of his coat. I swallowed so hard I almost choked when our eyes met.

"I don't think I know you, woman."

His voice was cold but the perfect shade of his brown eyes just inexplicably drew me in. He looked like Indian mixed blood, with curly locks on his head and his clean-shaven perfect face and perfect jawline. Jesus, this man was totally a perfect picture of Adonis.

I hissed to myself as I shook my head, 'Stop this, Cass!'

It's always the most handsome ones that turn out to be jerks! Ryan, a typical example, even my father…

Men who like to cheat and indulge in domestic abuse don't deserve to be breathing, they should be locked up in hell.

All they end up doing while breathing is to ruin the lives of their children who are the real victims and who end up living their lives with the stigma and result of their disgusting behavior.

"You're wasting my time." He frowned as he tried to shake off my hand. The clear contempt in his eyes immediately raged my anger more.

"Don't try to run, you coward!” I grabbed his arm, "Apologize to that lady before you walk out of the door. No one gave you the right to bully an innocent woman."

"Innocent woman?" He looked where my finger was pointing. The woman cringed at his gaze, lowering her head even lower in fear. Damn, this asshole must have left a huge psychological shadow on her.

"Apologize to her! Or I'll teach you a lesson," I yelled as I grabbed his arm more tightly. Yet he just looked at me disdainfully and sneered, "One last warning, leave me alone, you brainless woman."

Bluffing garbage. Did he think that women should be afraid of him only if he said a few harsh words?

“I am brainless?” I huffed and faced his gaze without fear. "Then you must be dysfunctional? You can't get it up without hurting a woman!"

I could feel the sudden silence around me, and the air felt a few degrees colder. The stranger standing before me tightened his jaw.

"Mind your words, woman! Or, you'll regret it," He spoke sternly as he stared me down with a look of repulsion in his eyes. I felt more furious, how dare a bastard who just assaulted a woman have the nerve to judge me?

"Regrets?" I scoffed, "It's not in my vocabulary. At least not for assholes like you!" I warned fiercely as I grabbed him by the collar and gave him a hard headbutt. With too much force, we both lost our balance and fell to the ground.

“You drunk lunatic!” He cursed as he covered his forehead, and then grabbed me by the collar. The force caused me to hiccup accidentally, and the heavy stench of liquor hit right on his nose making him frown hard.

Later on, all logic will dictate that after what happened earlier, I shouldn't have drunk that night.

“Now, you finally show your true color." I smiled provocatively as I watched his hand rise high. "You're just a loser who can't get your dick hard without assaulting a woman!"

I could see a storm forming in his eyes but when his phone rang, he let go of my collar.

“You should be thankful that I never strike women.” He coldly warned me before he left to pick up his call, leaving me in confusion alone on the floor.

What the hell he was bullshitting? I started as I struggled to get up, trying to confront him again. How dare he deny his fault when the victim was just beside us?

I really have to punch his beautiful face, it would scar very nicely.

"Stop this, Miss. Mr. Lysander isn't someone you should mess up with!"

I could feel hands on my body trying to pry me off him but I struggled against them in my dazed state.

I heard a distant voice screaming and yelling out cuss words, it took me a while to realize that the voice was mine.

I don't remember how I left the bar. When I woke up the next morning, I was in a familiar bedroom which belonged to my best friend, Crystal.

"Oh girl, finally awake?" Crystal teased as she handed me a glass of water. I didn't realize how thirsty I was until I saw the cup in her hands. "I heard you got into a fight with some big shot. What a pity, I missed your heroic moment,"

"It's not funny Crystal," I accepted the water gratefully, as I rubbed circles around my head with my other hand. My brain felt like it was exploding because of the bad hangover. "Besides, that bastard deserves it, who told him to bully women?"

"Well, I see. So our Lady Justice, why didn't you call your dear boyfriend to pick you up? You guys had a fight?"

Her words instantly brought me like a deflated balloon.

"Ryan cheated and we are over.' My voice was hoarse and filled with bitterness.

"Oh, that fvcking bastard!" Crystal cursed, as she gathered me in her arms to comfort me, "I'm so sorry honey, I should have been there earlier for you last night"

"It's all -" My voice cut off when I got a call from my mother, I picked it up immediately, "Hey ma, what's going…." My face soon turned pale as I heard the horrible news from the other end,

"What's wrong Cass?" Crystal asked with a worried expression, and it made my heart break more.

It took me a while to get my voice and I could feel my eyes trickle down tears, "Wh-what should I do, Crystal?" I faltered, " They said my mother is terminally ill."